Partners celebrate construction milestone at 1 Pilgrim Place

Project partners came together today to celebrate the continued progress of 1 Pilgrim Place, one of the landmark developments within Newcastle's transformational Pilgrim Street regeneration programme.

Representatives from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Reuben Brothers (Newcastle) Ltd, Bowmer + Kirkland, Avison Young, Ryder Architecture, Cundall and Newcastle City Council visited the site to mark the latest construction milestone ahead of the building's completion in 2027. Guests were given a tour of the development before hearing from project partners about the role 1 Pilgrim Place will play in the ongoing transformation of Newcastle city centre.

1 Pilgrim Place will become the future Newcastle home for the Department for Work and Pensions, providing a high-quality, sustainable workplace that will support the department's long-term presence in the city. Together with neighbouring developments including Pilgrim's Quarter, Hotel Gotham Newcastle, Worswick Chambers and Bank House, the scheme’s 7.9-hectare site forms part of one of the UK's most significant city-centre regeneration programmes.

The event celebrated the strength of collaboration between the public and private sectors, with partners reflecting on the progress achieved to date, and the next phase of delivery which is set to bring forward a new business location in the heart of Newcastle City Centre.

Roger Thornton, Head of Property at Motcomb Estates, asset manager for Reuben Brothers (Newcastle) Ltd, said:
"Today's event is a great opportunity to recognise the progress being made at 1 Pilgrim Place and the commitment shown by everyone involved in delivering it. The building is an important part of the wider regeneration of Pilgrim Street, creating high-quality workspace that will complement the growing mix of commercial, leisure and hospitality uses emerging across this part of the city. As more projects reach completion over the coming months, the long-term vision for Pilgrim Street is becoming a reality."

Sarah Homer, Director General – Corporate Transformation at the Department for Work and Pensions, said:
"It's fantastic to see the progress being made at 1 Pilgrim Place. This development will provide a modern, collaborative workplace that supports the way DWP and our staff work while reinforcing our long-term commitment to Newcastle. We look forward to seeing the building completed and becoming part of this thriving new city-centre neighbourhood."

Paul Anderson, Project Director at Bowmer + Kirkland, said:
"Reaching this stage of construction is a testament to the commitment and expertise of everyone working on the project. Delivering a development of this scale within a busy city-centre environment requires close collaboration, and we're proud of the progress made as we continue towards completion."

Christopher Turnbull, Principal at Avison Young, said:
"1 Pilgrim Place is another significant milestone in the wider regeneration of Pilgrim Street. Avison Young is proud to support the programme through project management, property management, planning and agency services. The scheme will deliver one of the city's most prominent office developments, helping to make a lasting contribution to Newcastle's economy, business community and long-term commercial future."